The Sky Muster satellite launches have prompted the Better Internet for Rural Regional and Remote Australia group to undertake a fresh survey of rural internet users.

The information gleaned will inform a visit to Canberra at the end of October by BIRRR founder Kristy Sparrow, who will be taking part in a panel discussion at the NFF national congress, alongside Regional Communications Minister Fiona Nash, nbn co CEO Bill Morrow, and Vodaphone’s Inaki Berroeata.

A survey of almost 2000 people undertaken by the group at the start of the year uncovered severe disadvantages for rural users in terms of access, speeds, cost and reliability of internet connections, whether they be via mobile broadband or via satellite.

As reported by Queensland Country Life, they were issues that were having a dramatic effect on rural, regional and remote people’s business, the education of their children and themselves, and on their personal well-being.

Some 63pc of respondents were ‘shaped’ more than six times per year, with over 40pc shaped every month, while 74pc of mobile broadband users and 89pc of satellite users had download speeds under 5Mbps.

Kristy said it would be important to speak in Canberra with fresh data rather than guesswork, and be able to gauge the impact of Sky Muster.

Most relevant for those either connected to, or waiting for a connection to, Sky Muster, Kristy said it would ensure both good and not-so-good experiences could be told before a national audience, but it would also enable people to explain why they weren’t choosing Sky Muster.

“This is your chance to have input into the future of RRR internet,” she said.